Years ago there was a popular superstition that you shouldn't wash on New Year's Day 'or you wash your family/friends away.' Hmm. I can't say I ever remember my family taking much notice of it, but I did not some people who took it very seriously indeed.

However in the Penry household there is fat chance of washing on New Year's Day - or indeed any other day in the foreseeable future, since the washing machine has gone insane.

Now normally a washing machine just malfunctions, doesn't it? It won't switch on, or it won't spin, or maybe spills water all over the floor. But mine has gone one better. It has totally flipped it's lid.

So it switches itself on an off when it feels like it - on two memorable occasions doing so when the power was disconnected which was downright creepy. I seriously thought about calling Mulder and Scully, I can tell you.

I don't know what's causing the problem, but I do know it isn't unique. Sometimes electrical appliances do seem to function independent of electricity. Yes, I know it's impossible - but I also know what I saw. I have now unplugged said machine permanently and moved the plug far from the socket (well, you never know, maybe it's learned to plug itself back in.)

I hope you are all having a great New Year's Day. I know I am, although I have spent most of it in the kitchen, cooking up a feast : pheasant with mushrooms and bacon, together with Duck in an orange sauce plus a veggie option.

I am now full of food (and wine!

Duw, it's great!